A Canadian Abroad Pt 3

At Mount Teide in Tenerife

It’s been six months to the day since I first set foot on English soil and oh the places my feet have taken me since then. Over the course of this time I’ve moved away from home, to another country, another continent, travelled through four countries, started a new job, made new friends, battled my way through hardships, saw my own potential and discovered I could succeed. My most recent travels have taken me to Tenerife in the Canary Islands and it was only there that I realized I needed a break from England, taking time to reflect on the experience properly because it’s difficult to do when I’m in the thick of it all. Life here feels so normal now that I sometimes forget about cultural differences, remembering them only when I have Canadian visitors or am on Skype.

Off to Hogwarts!

It’s been interesting watching my visiting friends react to places like Manchester and Accrington. Most notably, they end up being completely in awe of the architectural differences between the two areas and grateful for instructions on the road informing them to look left or right (quite frankly, I am too). Then there are the little things like knowing which taxis to take, how to read train tickets, discovering new foods and pub life, knowing when and which football teams to support, how to take the tube in London – it took me two days to learn! I once ordered two cappuccinos from Costa Coffee and my Canadian friend turn to me after and said, “I have no idea what she said,” referring to the woman who took our order. At times I’ve even found myself asking friends and family, “What do we call this in Canada again?”

With Peter Pan at Kensington Gardens

I never expected these six months to have gone the way they did but I’ve learned a lot along the way and it’s not just about personal growth – Cummins Mellor has been a great place to learn about job markets and job mentality, for example. I am pleased to be where I am right now and determined to take more strides so when I complete my first year there will be even more stories to tell. I am walking the path of happiness and it’s been a wonderful one to explore.